Four pedestrians, including a three-year-old girl, were injured after a doctor’s car veered off the road and mounted a pavement in Navi Mumbai’s Kalamboli area on Monday evening, police said.
The accident took place around 7 pm in Sector-1, Kalamboli, when a car driven by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sanjay Baranwal reportedly went out of control while he was travelling towards his workplace. The vehicle first struck a parked scooter before climbing onto the pavement and hitting four pedestrians.
The injured include a couple, their young daughter, and a male hawker. All four sustained injuries and were provided medical attention. Authorities have not yet released details about the severity of their injuries.
According to Rajendra Kote, Senior Inspector of Kalamboli Police Station, Dr. Baranwal practices at Satyam Multispeciality Hospital in Kalamboli. Earlier in the day, he had reportedly performed surgery at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Civic Hospital in Kalwa, Thane, and was on his way back to Kalamboli when the accident occurred.
Police said the doctor claimed he became drowsy while driving after a lengthy surgical procedure. He told investigators that fatigue may have caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
“Dr. Baranwal stated that he felt sleepy while driving after completing a long surgery and was heading to another hospital when the mishap occurred,” Inspector Kote said.
Authorities noted that the doctor did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. However, a medical examination was conducted at Panvel Sub-District Hospital to determine whether alcohol or any other substance was involved. The test results are still awaited.
Based on preliminary findings, police are preparing to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Dr. Baranwal under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act for rash and negligent driving resulting in injuries.
Investigators are examining the exact circumstances that led to the accident, including the doctor’s condition, vehicle movement, and witness accounts from the scene.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns about driver fatigue and road safety, particularly among professionals working long and demanding shifts. Police said further action will be taken after reviewing the medical report and completing the investigation.
